Discuss 1991-1993 Thunderbird 5.0 questions. on AllFordMustangs.com, the place for Mustang enthusiasts.

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I might be picking up a free 1991-1993 Thunderbird with the 5.0 and aod transmission in the next day or so. I know the Thunderbird had a more restrictive intake and exhaust than the ones used on the Mustangs, but is the rest of the engine the same (same cam, same throttle body, computer?). I am mainly wondering if it uses the mass air sensor like the mustang, or the harder to modify system used in the trucks. Suposedly the engine runs good, but a solenoid or piston in the transmission went out, so the transmission won't enguage, that's why I'm getting it for free. I'm not sure yet if I will keep the car to use as a daily driver or not, depends on what kind of condition the rest of it is in when I finally get to see it. If the rest of the car is trashed, I might just pull the engine and transmission out, and swap over my performer rpm intake and electronic distributor, along with a bigger camshaft, then drop it into my 1965 Mustang coupe. Any info is greatly appreciated. I've searched Thunderbird forums and couldn't find much as far as performance/interchangability information, so figured I'd try here.

The base engine is just about the same but the cam is different. You could use many Mustang parts on it, mechanically it'll respond to mods as well. The computer is also different, but you could swap over a Mustang box into it. The Thunderbird computer has different settings than a Mustang.

Sounds good. Hopefully I'll hear back from the guy today or tomorrow, and I'll pick it up. If it's clean, I might just build the engine and keep it in the T-bird, and just use it as a play/travel car but I also like the idea of getting my '65 back on the road. (decisions decisions) lol

Mine had- ported and polished E7's, cobra upper and lower intake, e303 cam, bumped up timing, mild shift kit, 3.73 gears in an eaton posi, true dual exhaust... it was still wicked slow. Slower infact then my bone stock 1995 Mark VIII. This being said, pre 92 come with forged internals. They differ only by upper intake ( or so I've been told on several occasions) and exhaust manifolds. Cam and such are the same.

Everything I've found online so far says the '91-'93 were the HO, the 80's models may have been standard 5.0's.

That is correct.

There was also no 5.0L in Thunderbird or Cougars in '89 and '90 (the highest output engine was the supercharged 3.8L V6). And in '94 the V8 was the 4.6L, hence the reason why the H.O. 5.0 stopped after '93.

I have a 66 conv v8/c4. I want to put a 5.0 AOD in it, but I have almost given up on finding a 90-93 mustang donor within my budget.

A local used car lot owner suggested a 92 t-bird (he had one for $700) with a 5.0 AOD, but I did not have any information on doing a swap with this engine, so I passed.

If I understand what you guys are saying, the t-bird 5.0 is an HO? and would be suitable as a '66 upgrade?

And I was thinking that it would be better for the PCM to match the engine and transmission and would be more appropriate in this type of swap rather than a mustang PCM (since it would be set up for a different engine).